The Coptic Rite of Matrimony

The Coptic Rite of Matrimony by Nicolas Mourad is a study of how the Coptic Orthodox marriage rite developed through history, for clergy, liturgical scholars, theology students and lay readers with a serious interest in the Church's sacraments.

The Coptic Orthodox Rite of Matrimony is not a single fixed text handed down unchanged. It is the product of a long, layered history, shaped by manuscript traditions, changing pastoral practice and the lived worship of the Church in different times and places.

Comparing manuscript sources directly, from early Bohairic texts to modern printed editions, the author traces every part of the rite: engagement, betrothal, crowning, the removal of the crowns, the prayer for the bride after forty days, and second marriage. By examining textual variants, prayers no longer used and forgotten ritual elements, he shows how each rite grew and how different liturgical traditions met over time.

The study also explores the theology in the prayers and ritual actions, their roots in Scripture, and what they teach about sanctification, covenant and Christian family life. It includes critical editions, rebuilt from earlier manuscripts, of each major rite discussed, so readers can see how these rites may once have been celebrated.

Book details

• Author: Nicolas Mourad
• Format: Printed book, 6 x 9 in
• Pages: 366
• Published: 2026, St Shenouda Press
• ISBN: 9781764580571